Tuning of Empirical Radio Propagation Models Effect of Location Accuracy

The paper summarises tuning of empirical propagation model RX-level predictions to measurements. An algorithm using least-squares fit of predictions to measurements is discussed. The algorithm uses the Condition number of the resulting equations to control the numerical stability of the calculations. The algorithm has been evaluated using measurements obtained in a drive-test measurement campaign in Helsinki. The results indicate that the algorithm performs well by being able to improve the fit of RX-level predictions to the observations. An aim of the CELLO project has been to evaluate the feasibility of using RX-level location data logged by the network to tune the propagation model. If this is feasible, predicted coverage could be continuously re-tuned based on location data acquired during the normal operation of the network. However, because the location methods that will most likely be available in the network are less accurate than GPS-locations, it is necessary to evaluate the effect of less accurate locations on the tuning. The paper thus evaluates the effect of location accuracy on the tuning results. The evaluation is based on measurements where locations were estimated by different methods. A tentative conclusion is made that the location accuracy provided by the DCM (Database Correlation Method) positioning method [H. Jormakka (ed.), S. Horsmanheimo, J. Lähteenmäki, J. Rissanen, Juuso Pajunen, E. Aarnes, S. Holm, B. Forsberg, “Trial Results” CELLO-WP3-VTT-D30, 2003.] could be sufficient for tuning purposes.     

The hp-version of the boundary element method for Helmholtz screen problems

We study the boundary element method for weakly singular and hypersingular integral equations of the first kind on screens resulting from the Dirichlet and Neumann problems for the Helmholtz equation. It is shown that the hp-version with geometrical refined meshes converges exponentially fast in both cases. We underline our theoretical results by numerical experiments for the pure h-, p-versions, the graded mesh and the hp-version with geometrically refined mesh.     

Endothelium-dependent vasodilation of the skin microcirculation in heart transplant recipients

The aim of this study was to compare the exercise intensity and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) of a high-impact (HIP) and a low-impact (LIP) university aerobic dance session. Ten women [mean (SD) age 22.9 (2.6) years] took part in the study. An incremental treadmill test was performed by each subject to determine maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) and maximum heart rate (HRmax). The measured VO2max [mean (SD)] was 49.0 (7.5) ml x kg(-1) x min(-1). The subjects were randomly assigned to LIP and HIP sessions (i.e. five of the subjects participated in the HIP session first, and the other five participated in the LIP session first). In a laboratory, heart rate, oxygen uptake and RPE were measured throughout each session for each subject. Expired air was collected continuously throughout the sessions using Douglas bags (ten bags over a 30-min period). The sessions consisted of 20 min of aerobic exercise (bags 1-7) followed by 5 min of local muscular endurance exercise (bags 8 and 9) and 5 min of flexibility exercises (bag 10). The mean intensity of the aerobic section of the LIP and HIP sessions was 51.6% and 64.7% VO2max, respectively. Ninety-five percent confidence intervals for the average difference between the HIP and LIP sessions demonstrate that the %VO2max was between 12% and 14% higher for the HIP session. The mean %HRmax for the LIP and HIP sessions was 71.4% and 76.7%, respectively, with the %HRmax in the HIP session being between 5.4% and 7.2% higher on average than that of the LIP session. On average, the RPE for the aerobic section of the HIP session (12.1) was consistently higher than that of the LIP session (11.1). HIP activity has the potential to maintain/improve the aerobic fitness of its participants. According to the literature, the exercise intensity elicited by LIP activity may have a limited training effect for the population utilised in this study, and for some individuals may result in detraining. Conversely, LIP activities may be an appropriate mode of exercise for overweight and unfit individuals.     

Antiatherogenic effect of estrogen abolished by balloon catheter injury in cholesterol-clamped rabbits

The purpose of this study was to investigate the importance of an intact endothelial cell layer for the direct antiatherogenic effect of estrogen on the arterial wall. Thirty rabbits were bilaterally ovariectomized and subjected to mechanical injury of the endothelium by balloon catheterization of the upper thoracic aorta. Immediately after the operation, treatment was initiated with either 17 beta-estradiol or placebo given intramuscularly. All rabbits were clamped at a similar plasma cholesterol level from 1 week before the operation until the experiment was terminated 13 weeks later. In the undamaged aorta, ie, the aortic arch, the lower thoracic aorta, and the upper abdominal aorta, the estrogen-treated rabbits had one third (P = .06), one sixth (P = .002), and one seventh (P = .001), respectively, the accumulation of cholesterol of the placebo-treated rabbits. In the upper thoracic aorta that had been subjected to mechanical injury of the endothelium, however, aortic cholesterol accumulation was not significantly different between the two groups. Similar results were obtained by histological evaluation of the aortic tissues. Immunohistochemical staining with antibodies against macrophages, smooth muscle cells, and T lymphocytes revealed no significant differences in the intimal distribution of cells between estrogen- and placebo-treated rabbits, except for a higher number of T lymphocytes per unit intimal area of the undamaged aortic arch (P < .0005) in the estrogen-treated-rabbits than the placebo-treated rabbits. This is the first study to demonstrate that the antiatherogenic effect of estrogen is abolished by balloon catheter injury in cholesterol-clamped rabbits. These results may indicate that an intact endothelial cell layer is crucial for the direct antiatherogenic effect of estrogen on the arterial wall.     

Effect of familial hypophosphatemic rickets on dental development: a controlled, longitudinal study

Familial or X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLHR) is the most common type of rickets in developed countries today. While the dental manifestations of rickets are well reported, there is little information regarding its relationship to dental development and other dental anomalies. This investigation studied the rate of dental development and associated dental anomalies in 19 XLHR subjects compared with 38 race-, age-, and sex-matched control children. The results showed that in both XLHR and control children, no significant differences existed in dental age compared with the respective chronological age, indicating that rickets did not affect the rate of dental development. Longitudinal growth curves of seven XLHR and matched control children substantiated that relationships of dental to chronological ages were comparable in both groups. Male XLHR subjects showed significantly increased tendency for dental taurodontism with mean Crown-Body (CB):Root (R) ratio of 1.1 compared with 1.0 in females and 0.8 in controls (P < 0.02). Male XLHR children also showed significantly increased prevalence (50%) of ectopic permanent canines compared with control children (8%, P < 0.01).     

Sum and difference of two squared correlated Nakagami variates in connection with the McKay distribution

General formulas for the probability density function of the sum and the difference of two correlated, not necessarily identically distributed, squared Nakagami variates (or equivalently, gamma variates) are derived. These expressions are shown to be in the form of the McKay "Bessel function" distributions. In addition, formulas for the moments of these distributions, in terms of the Gauss hypergeometric function, are provided. An application of these new results relevant to the calculation of outage probability in the presence of self-interference is discussed.     

Die Methode der Finiten Prismen bei anisotropen Materialeigenschaften

The Finite Prism Method is a semi-analytical solution technique for structural elements with prismatic geometry. In this case the basic equations of the theory of elasticity will be transformed and the variables can be separated. Statements on the effectiveness of the Finite Prism Method for isotropic materials already exist. An extension to anisotropic materials is possible, but restrictions for the constitutive behaviour are given by the limitations of the method. The application areas of the proposed theory are demonstrated by exemplary numerical tests.     

A Reduced-Basis Element Method

Reduced basis methods are particularly attractive to use in order to diminish the number of degrees of freedom associated with the approximation of a set of partial differential equations. The main idea is to construct ad hoc basis functions with a large information content. In this note, we propose to develop and analyze reduced basis methods for simulating hierarchical flow systems, which is of relevance for studying flows in a network of pipes, an example being a set of arteries or veins. We propose to decompose the geometry into generic parts (e.g., pipes and bifurcations), and to contruct a reduced basis for these generic parts by considering representative geometric snapshots. The global system is constructed by gluing the individual basis solutions together via Lagrange multipliers.